GEOPvGE  CLINTON  FAIPxCHILD] 

mm^>w\LLi  AM  sm^^t 


i 


^^fs^ 


DUKE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
DURHAM,  N.  C. 


C 


Rec'd     (./^4^n.e    L    /  9T  t> 


DUKE 

UNIVERSITY 

LIBRARY 

Treasure  "Room 

THE 

ASS: 

O  R,    T  H  E 

SERPEN.T. 

fat 

ACcMPARisoN  between  toe  Tribes  of 
Iffachar  and  Dan,  in  their  Regard  for 
Civil     Liberty. 

» 

November  5,   17 12. 
By    THOMAS   BRADBURY. 


JOB  xxxi,  34.  Did  I  fear  a  j^reat  Multitude,  or  did  thi  Con' 
tempt  of  Families  terrify  me,  that  I  kept  Silence,  and  luert  not 
out  of  the  Door  P 

L     O    N    T>     O    N  !    Printed. 

BOSTON: 

Rc-Pilntcd •  and  Sold  by  Edes  ahd    Gill,  In  Queen-Street, 

M.Dcraxvni. 


S25*T« 


PREFACE- 

'T  is  cf  the  utmofl  Importance  to  fautid  our  Principles  upop  thefoiul 
Bafis  of  Truth  ;  and  before  nve  declare  ourfelfes  on  this  or  the  other 
Side  of  any  ^ejiion,  ive  ought  thoroughly  to  underfimrd  the  Matter 
in  Debate,  and  ferioufly  to  confider  the  Confequences  of  adopting  this 
or  tl  e  other  Opinion  :  Jf^hen  ive  have  done  this, ,  nve  are  jilted  for 
a  manly  and  uniform  Prtfecution  of  what  ive  take  in  hand.  Reafon 
faints  out  to  us  the  Method  ;  and  a  Confckufnefs  of  our  beif:g  right,  fupplus 
us  ivith  Refclution  and  Fortitude  to  purfne  it.  It  is  of  the  greateji  Moment 
to  enjery  Society,  that  ajujl  EJiimate  he  formed  of  the  Po-iuers  of  Gcver/i- 
ment,  and  the  Liberties  oj  the  People  ;  for  on  this  depfnds  e-utry  Thing  nvhich 
is  held  dear,  <vohether  of  a  civil  or  religious  Nature  ;  and  tuhat  jnCikes  it 
fiill?nore  interefling  is,  that  coery  Man  in  this  Cafe  is  like  Adam,  the  Repre- 
fnitati've  cf<^  future  Race,  ivho  are  to  be  rc-..varded  for  the  Firtucs,  or  pn- 
nifhed  for  thi  it,  of  their  Progenitors.  Never  -vjas  there  a  People  vohom 
it  more  immedict^  Ij  concerned  to  fearch  into  the  Nature  and  Extent  of  their 
Rights  and  Pri'vileges  than  it  does  the  People  of  America  at  this  Day.  By 
an  unfortunate  Train  cf  Circumjlances,  the  Affcclions  of  our  Mother  Coun- 
try fe  em  to  be  alienated  from  us,  and  an  a'variclous  Defire  of  making  thi 
rnojl  of  us,feemsfo  Jar  to  have  blinded  her,  that  untefs  ive  are,  by  feme 
Meam  able  to  coi^.nteraSl  her  ill-judgeJ  Meafures,nve  Jljall not  only  be  undone 
oipfclvcs,  but  Pall  hei've  the  Unhappincfs  like^wife  of  feeing  Great-Britain 
fink  in  the  'vaf  Occan  of  her  o-zvn  Mifcondud.  It  is  vjith  a  Defign  to  excite 
in  this  Fecile  ajuft  fenfe  of  the  Mifery  and  Quilt  of  Slavery,  and  to  ani- 
mate them  to  a  -proper  Difcharge  of  their  Duty,  in  tnaking  uje  of  fuch  In/lru- 
metits  as  Pronjidence  has  put  into  their  Hands,  for  the  PtyfcrvatiGn  of  their 
'Ibgrties,  that  the  foUovjing  Sermon  makes  its  Appearance  at  ibis  Time,  in 
-viich  the  Difference  betiveen  a  I'iriuous  and  -vicious,  a  ivife  andfupid,  a 
Ji'ee  a/id  a  Jirvile  People,  is  fa  juftly  difplayed,  that  it  is^  h'jped  a  due  hn- 
Ircfjlon  njutll  be  made  on  all,  into  vjhnfe  Hands  it  may  come,  excepting  only 
thofe  remorfelefs  Wretch^'s,  vj'fiotn  a  righteous  God  has  given  o'uer  to  Blind- 
7icfs  of  Mind,that  the-;  fhould  not.  hjonv  their  oivn  and  their  Country's  Intsrejx, 
or  to  Hardaefs  of  Heart,  that  they  fhould  fee  the  DifirejJ'es,  and  hear  the 
Groans  andLamentations  of  their  Brethren,  avithout  the  leajt  Ccmpaffion  for 

their  Sufferings. The  Learning  and  Piety  f  the  Re<vere>rd  Anther  are 

too  'vjcU.  km  Lun  to  need  a  Comment.  His  Zeal  for  .Truth  and  carneji  Con- 
tention for  the  Liberty  ix:hert%(:tfh  Chrijl  has  made  us  free,  rendered  him  a 
P'leffing  toManhiiid vjhilj]  li-vin^,and  ha^e fo  richly  emhcdmed  his-  Namt,that 
It  muft  be  prcfervcd  --Jjith  a  Love  cf'uirtuouspreedom,  in  the  gralcjul  Hearts 
ifnumberiefsfucce.dtnvGeneraiions  -. — That  hisMemory  may  bejitll  more  en- 
deared to  Pnjlerity  by  his  bei-Kg  Inflrumental  in  raifing  in  the  Aniericcns,  jufl 
jpprehenftcns  of  their  Obligations  to  themfelves,  to  lh<ir  Country,  to  their 
Cffsprine;  ;  and  aL:A;e  aU  to  that  COD,  ivho  has  cummiited  to  them  tk,at 
inefiimable  Pearl,  Liberty,  is  the  eameft  Wifh,  and  fervent  Prayer,  of    ■ 

— — — — ,  December  24th,    1707. 

GEN. 


sf    ,<» 


Km 


GEN.    XLIX.   14,  15,  16,  17,  18. 

Jjfachar  is  a  ftrong  Afs  couching  doivn  between  tivo  BurcUns  ; 

And-hefTw  that  Reft  "jjas  gOf>d,and  the  Land  that  it  ivas  pleafant ; 
and  bo-ojed  his  Shoulder  to  bear,  and  became  a  Servant  unto 
Tribute. 

Dan  ftj  all  judge  his  People  as  one  of  the  Tribes  oflfrdel. 

Dan  ftoall  he  a  Serpent  in  the  War,  an  Adder  in  the  Path  ;  that 
inteih  the  Horfe-heeUyfj  that  the  Rider  ftjall  fall  backivard.    ' 

_  I  have  'Waited  fcr  thy  Salvation,  0  Lord. 

^HESE  Words  are  Part  of  the  Prophecy  thzt  Jaco^j  dealt 
among  his  Sons  whea  the  Days  dreiv  near  that  he  tnujl 
die,  ch.  47,  29.  and  they  let  us  fee  Avith  what  Variety 
of  Temper  thole  People  a(flsd,  vho  all  grew  from  the 
fame  Father  :  A  full  Argument  how  well  theDiftindtion 
is  form'd,  Thjit  all  are  not  Ifrael,  ivho  are  of  ///•«</,Rom.9.  6,7. 
Neither  bccanfe  they  are  the  Seed  of  Ahrahavi,  are  tkey  all  Chil- 
dren, chap.  49.  I.  He  here  opens  out  'vjhtit  ftmll  befall  ^e--^  'n 
th:  latter  Days,  and  how  they  would  carry  it  when  they  c'Ame 
into  the  promis'd  Land  ;  and  becaufc  foin  ,•  of 'em  fhould  have 
little  or  no  Taftc  of  Liberty,  and  other?  would  purlue  it  through 
a<l  the  Expence  and  Danger  that  liy  in  their  Way,  he  places 
thefe  Two  together,  that  every  one  who  reads  may  do  Juflicc 
upon  the  plain  Oppofition  there  ishetween 'cm. 

I  Ihall  coiifider  the  Words,  Fir  It,  as  they  dcfcribe  aPeople  that 
are  Sluggifli  andCov.'ard'y,  who  will  venture  nothing  to  faveAll,, 
whofe  Scjuls  are  beneath  knowing  the  Didinftion  of  Kondage  and 
Freedom  :  And  on  the  other  hand,  as  they  give  us  theCharactcr 
of  thofe  who  admire  their  Liberties,  and  will  dare  to  feeJc  and 
fetch  'em  wherever  they  are  carried  ;  who  reckon  this  a  Property 
that  ihould  no:  be  loft  as  long  as  it  can  be  kept,  and  will 
fcarce  fubmit  to  au  Exiftence  under  Tyranny, 

In  thefe  two  Branches  you  have  the  Divifion  of  the  Text  ; 
Here's  a  Tribe  of  Ifrael  that  gives  us  an  Example  of  each  Tem- 
per :  Jjfachar  is  remcmbred  for  hrs  >!cg]e(n:  ot"  that  \\hich  Dan 
was  reiolv'd  upon  no  Terms  to  part  with  :  And   by  obferving 

whii 


•325^^ 


4  The  Ass  ;  or,  The  Serpent. 

what  good  old  Jacob  faith  of  thefe  Two  that  were  fo  unlike  one 
another,  we  may  fix  the  Charafters  that  arc  due  to  thofe  who 
either  defpife  or  value  the  Deliverance  of  this  Day. 

I.  I  fhall  begin  with  the  Account  that  you  have  of  I/fachar, 
whofe  Paffive  Obedience  (if  you'll  call  it  fo)  is  condemn 'd  toMe- 
mory  by  thefe  Words  ;  Ijfachar  it  a  Jirong  Jfs  couching  donvn  be- 
t'ween  tiuo  Burdens  :  And  he  faiu  the  Reji  nvas  good,and  theLand, 
that  it  ivas  pleafant,  and  boTued  his  Shoulder  to  bear,  and  became 
a.  Servant  to  Tribute  :  Where  you  have  three  Things, 

I.  The  general  Temper  of  this  People. 

3.  The  Subjeftion  and  Bondage  they  fell  into.       And, 

3.  The  Reafon  they  gave  for  this  Stupidity. 

(i.)  You  may  obfcrve,  that  many  of  the  Tribes  have  their 
Hiilory  couch'd  in  a  Refemblance  that's  given  of 'em  •  They  are 
compar'd  to  fome  Creature  of  that  very  Difpofition  that  fhould 
obtain  among  'em  :  Thas  (ver.  9,  21,  22,  27.)  Judah  is  a  Lyons 
IVhelp  ;  Naphtali  a  Hind  let  loofe  ;  Jofeph  a  fruitful  Bough  ;  and 
Benjamin  a  ravening  Wolf.  Now  thefe  Allufions  would  convey 
to  us  fuch  Thoughts  of  the  People  as  bear  up  to  the  Account  we 
have  of  'em  afterwards  :  They  are  moft  of  'em  to  be  underftood 
as  a  Reputation  ;  but  what  is  {?i\^oi  Ijfachar  is  as  fall  of  Con- 
tempt as  a  Metaphor  can  be  :  We  are  to  know  him  by  his  Like- 
nefs  to  the  moft  heavy  and  ftupid  Animal  intheCrcation.  Inftead 
of  having  his  Name  from  fomething  vigorous  and  beautiful,  his 
Father  leaves  this  upon  him.  That  he's  a  jirong  Ajs  couching  doivri 
betiueen  tiuo  Burdens.  The  Ground  of  the  Similitude  you  fee  is 
the  little  Relifh  they  fhould  have  for  theirLiberries,  the  lorry  and 
dullSurrender  they  would  makeof  themfelves  toTyranny;  which 
is  a  Temper  expos'din  this  Comparifon  two  Ways. 

1.  It's  imputed  to  nothing  elfe  but  the  Stupidity  of  them  that 
fubmit  to  it ;  the  Tribe  that  fmks  into  thofe  Meafures  is  refem- 
bled  by  an  Afs. 

2.  It's  condemn'd  by  the  Infmuation  that  it  was  in  their  Power 
to  have  itotherwaye  ;  Ijfachar  is  a  flrongAfs  :  That  veryStrength 
that  makes  him  couch  under  a  Load,  would  be  fufficient  to 
throw  it  oflF. 

I.  What  the  Comparifon  leads  me  firft  to  tell  you.  is  that  the 
Foundation  of  all  Paffive  Obedience  is  laid  in  Stupidity.  They 
that  bouch  doivn  betiveen  tivo  Bvrdens,  nvho  boiv  their  Shoulders 
to  hear,  and  become  Servants  to  Tribute,  may  here  fee  Aihat  Herd 
they  belong  to. 

Tho' 


the  Ass;  or,  77?^  Serpekt,  jf 

Tho'  an  Afs  was  more  us'd  in  thofe  Eaftern  Countries  than  it 
is  with  us,  yet  the  Old  Tertamcnt  hath  accounted  of  it  as  fo  mean 
a  Creature,  that  the  Compariroii  is  very  juft  :  It  feems  to  be  made 
for  no  higher  a  Defign  than  Drudgery,  bearing  of  Burdens  no 
way  remarkable  either  for  its  Head  or  its  Heels,  {o  little  capable 
of  being  taught,  that  the  FoHy  of  our  Nature  is  fignified  by  it» 
that  Man  is  horn  as  a  'wild  'IjYs  Colt  :  And  tho'  it's  irue  in  thoie 
Parts,  we  find  the  greateft  Men  riding  on  them,  yet  it's  a  Crea- 
tyre  that  the  Ceremonial  Law  hath  branded  in  a  very  peculiar 
way  :  It  muft,  upon  no  Terms  whatfoever,  be  thrown  among 
the  Offerings  of  the  Lord  :  The  Command  was  very  general, 
Bxod.  13.  12,  13.  ThoTt  /halt  fet  apart  unto  thehord  all  that  opens 
the  Matrix,  and  every  Firjiling  that  cof/ies  of  the  Beaji  'which  thou 
haji,  the  Males  Jliall  be  the  Lords.  This  Law  was  laid  out  in 
that  compafs  to  put  'em  often  in  mind  of  the  MeJJiah,  who  ihould 
be  the  Firjl-born  of  every  Creature  ;  yet  to  this  there's  one  Ex- 
ception, and  the  only  Animal  left  out  is,  every  Firjilingof  an  Jfs 
tohufJjalt  redeem  'with  a  Lamb  ;  and  if  thou  'wilt  not  redeem  it» 
thou  fhalt  break  its  Neck. 

So  that  when  Jacob  fpealcs  of  Iffachar  under  this  Comgarifon, 
'tis  a  viler  Name  than  he  could  pofllbly  leave  him  by  another  ; 
and  it  may  intimate  to  us,  not  only  the  Stupidity  of  their  Nature 
that  run  into  this  Crime,  but  a  particular  Unfitsefs  for  the  Ser- 
vice of  God,  They  fsem  to  be  the  Outcaft  of  both  Worlds  ;  they 
give  up  all  that's  dear  to 'em  in  this,  and  fhew  a  Dullnefs  that 
can  have  no  Room  in  the  other.  The  way  of  ferving  God  is 
nvithout  Feary  being  delivered  from  the  IVrath  of  Enemies,  in  Holt- 
ttefs  and  Right  eoufnefs  all  our  Days,  Luk.  i.  74,  7  j.  The  fearful 
«nH  unbelievi'tg  are  in  the  front  of  thofe  Sinners  who  fill  theLake 
of  Fire  KjBriinfloncyKtv.7 1 .8.  \'ou  may  always  obferve  it, that  an 
Indifference  to  CivilLiberties  goes  along  with  a  Negled  of  that 
which  is  Religious  :  A  Man  that  throws  aw.iy  the  Bleffmgs  of 
Providence*,  cannot  have  a  due  Relilh  to  thofe  of  Grace. 

Tho* 


It  may  be  juft'.y  remarked,  that  whtn  a  People  patiently  allow  their 
civil  Libertie";  to  be  encioathed  upon,  thcv  are  ripe  for  the  Lois  of 
thilr  rsrlpjious.  \iy  Brethren  of  the  Diifewting  Clergy,  I  fear,  have 
not  fufiiciently  attended  to  this,  and  therefore  under  the  Notion  of 
keeping  to  their  own  Dep:irtnient,  have  in  inr^t  Senfe  been  regardlels 
ot  the  civil  Rights  of  the  People  ;  now  altho'  I  would  not  encourage 
biify  Bodies,  yet  as  the  Lofs  of  civil  Lib3rty  debelitates  the  Minds  of 
Men,  renders  theni  unfit  to  examine  into  the  Truth  oi  any  Proportions, 
a,i9d  inclines  the^n.to  fi^  their  faith  on  whatever  their  Superiors  j)i'etenl 
to  believe.     Ic  js  incuaibcnt  on  all  wlio  wi,!^  well  to  Religion,  and  par^- 

tuularly 


6  The  Ass  ;  or^  The  Serpent. 

Tho'  fabmltting  to  the  impious  Will  of  a  Monarch  hath  been 
exalted  as  ifit  was  theont  Thing  needful,  yet  it's  ealy  to  prove, 
both  by  the  Rule  of  Scripture,  and  the  Hiftories  f>f  Men,   this  is 


ticularly  the  MiaiJJers  of  the  Gofpel,  to  iile  their  utmoll  Eitbrts  to  preferve 
among  rhofe  with  whom  they  have  any  Connexions,  an  inviolable  At- 
tachment to  their  Rights  as  Americans  ;  for  whaiever  we  give  up  our 
Rights  asMen,  we  /hall  be  near  being  inflavedasOhriftians  ;  lo  fully  sre 
ibme  EpifcopalGentlemen  perfwaded  of  the  truth  of  the  abovtCblervati-* 
■on,  that  from  our  Tamenefs  in  lubmitting  to  the  latelnnovations,  they 
have  been  encouraged  openly  to  avow  their  Dcfign  of  laying  a  Foun- 
dation for  Ecclciiartical  Tyranny.  I  Ihall  give  only  ene  Inftance 'of 
this,  by  quoting  aParagranh  from  the  Bofton  Chronicle  of  Deccnjbcr  ai. 
'  "  The  Church  Clergy  ot  New- York  and  New-Jcrfey  being  alfembled 
*'  together  in  a  voluntary  Convention,  and  affifted  by  feme  of  their 
"  Brethren  from  the  neighbouring  Provinces,  took  into  Confideration 
"  the  Propriety  and  Expediency  of  addrefling  the  Publick  on  the  Sub- 
**  je£l  of  an  American  Epifccpate  ;  after  a  thorough  Dif(;ufrion  of  the 
'*  Point,  they  were  unanimou/Iy  of  Opinion,  that  fairly  to  explain  the 
*'  Plan,on  whichAmericanBifiiops  had  been  requefted,to  lay  before  die 
*'  Public  the  Reafons  of  the  Requeft,to  anlwer  theObjeftions  that  have 
*•  been  made,  and  to  obviate  thofe  that  might  likewife  be  concsived 
"  againft  it,  was  both  Matter  of  Necelfity  and  Duty  ;  it  was  accord- 
"  ingfly  voted  that  fomethipg  to  this  Purpofe  (hould  be  publifhed, 
"  and  the  Reverend  T.  B.  Chandler,  D.  D.  Reftor  of  St.  John's 
"  Church  in  Elizabeth  Town,  New-Jn-fey,  wa«  appointed  to  this  Ser- 

"  vice This  Work  is  juft  Publifhed,    entitled.    An  Appeal  to   the 

♦*  Publick  in  Behalf  of  theChurch  of  England  in  America.  Application 
"  had  been  previoufly  made  in  Britain  for  one  or  more  Bifhops  to  be 
"  fen»  *^>  America— —Dr.  Ch.^ndler  mentions  in  his  IntroduiSlion,  that 
"  flioufd  any  Obje6lions  continue,  which  fhall  be  thought  to  dcferve 
"  Notice,  the  Objtftors  arc  invited  to  "propoie  them,  that  they  may  be 
"  fairly  and  candidly  debated  before  the  Tribunal  of  the  Public  ;  and 
*'  and  if  none  rtiould  be  offered, it  will  be  taken  for  granted  that  allPur- 
"  tic  ..ocquiefce  and  are  fttisfied." — Thus,  my  Brethren,  now  or  never 
you  are  to  offer  your  Objcflions  to  an  Eftabliftiment  which  caufed  your 
Father*;  to  \'''  from  a  Land  of  Plenty,  and  take  Shelter  in  an  unculti- 
vated Wildernefs,  that  they  might,  without  Reftraiut,  pay  a  pure  and 
undefiled  V/orfliip  to  the  God  uf  Heaven.  It  is  ardently  wiflied  that 
you  may  have  the  Spirit  of  V/iRIom,  and  may  be  enabled  fo  to  ipeak  in 
tht  Cault-  of  Religion,  that  you  may  put  Gain-f;>yers  to  Silence  :  But 
i.  luuft  be  confeflcd,  that  there  is  great  Realbn  to  be  alarmed  for  a  Peo- 
ple who,  like  hated  Eirau,havc  thcirBirthright  defpifed.  The  foregoing 
is  by  no  Means  defigned  as  a  Rtfleftion  upon  theEpifcopnl  Churches  in 
this  Country,  as  they  are  now  governed.  It  is  only  defired  they  would 
he  content  with  the  prcfent  full  and  free  Enjovmcnt  of  their  own  Mode 
of  Worfliip/ without  attempting  to  introduc^t , any  Thing  which  niav, 
and  certainly  will, in  Time,  be  deftruftive  to  thsrcligiousLibcrty  of  their 
DilTenting  Brethren. 


; 


77j(?  Ass  or,  The  Serpent. 


fo  far  from  containing  the  whole  of  Religion,  that  it  really  pof- 
fcfleth  no  one  Part  of  it  :  There  can  be  no  F^ith  in  it,  for  that 
would  both  purify  the  Heart  and  conquer  the  World.  It  was  this 
that  m<ide  Moi^sft/rfake  Egypt,  not  fearing  theWrath  ofthcKirg. 
Heb,  II.  27.  And  there  can  be  no  Love,  I  mean  to  God  or  his 
People,  for  that  would  teach  us  to  value  what  the  One  gi\'es  and 
the  Other  enjoys  :  And  tho'  this  maybe  call'd  Patience,  yet  it's 
a  Proftitution  of  the  Name  to  a  Temper  which  hath  none  of  the 
Thing  ;  for  this  Grace  fhews  itfelf  in  Bearing  a  Burden,  not  in 
Laying  it  on.  The  over-ruling  Hand  of  God  we  muft  iubmit 
to,  but  this  will  confift  with  all  the  Zeal  Ave  can  ufe  againft  the 
Tools  he  employs.  The  Diftinftion  is  a  good  one,  and  as  old  as 
David,  who  knew  how  different  his  Behaviour  ought  to  be  :  If 
the  Lord  hath  firred  thee  up  againjl  ?ne,  faith  he  to  Saul,  let  him 
^accept  an  Offering,  I  have  deferved  it  from  him,  and  cannot  an- 
fwer  him  one  of  a  thoufand  ;  hut  if  they  be  the  Children  of  Men  ^ 
cur  fed  be  they  before  the  Lord,  i  Sam.  26.  19. 

'Tis  plain  that  People  lofe  their  Chriflianity  with  their  Liber- 
ties ;  and  when  once  an  encroachingPower  hath  made  'emSlaves, 
there  needs  little  more  to  make 'em  Heathens.  The  Miniflers 
that  preach  up  This  DoArine,  will  foon  underiland  no  other  :  It 
fhall  drive  Faith,  Repentance  and  Holinefs  out  of  the  Pulpit, 
and  inftead  of  feeding  the  Children  'v.nth  Bread,  they'll  give  'em 
a  Stone  :  In  a  little  while  we  (hall  hear  ot  nothing  elfe,  butObe- 
dience  to  the  Luft  of  Men,  as  if  Chrift  had  no  other  Errand  ia 
Isying  down  his  Life,  than  to  make  the  Kings  of  the  Earth  a 
compliment  of  Ours  ;  that  as  he  was  a  Servant  of  Filers,  we 
muft  be  lb  too  ;  as  if  no  Sin  could  be  dangerous  but  what  they 
call  Rebellion,  and  the  Terms  o{ procuring  to  onrfehcs  Da)7ina- 
tion  were  never  to  be  ufed  but  in  one  Cafe,  which  is  refifting  of  a 
Civil  Pov.-er.  We  ihall  ftldom  hear  a  better  Applicution  oi  that 
awful  Arguiiient;  tis  not  fo  warmly  pleaded  to  make  \^s  fee  frc?n 
the  Wrath  to  come,  that  being  ivarned  of  God  ccna  .ling  Things 
not  feen  aj  yet,  ive  way  be  moved  luith  Fear  :  They'll  but  fcldom 
trouble  their  Heads  about  t]ieD::nger  of  Debauchery,  ilvAtJVhcre- 
luoagers  and  AdullerersGod  '■^)ill  jud^e  :  They'll  teM  us  but  little 
of  the  Hazard  fuch  are  in,  who  are  lovers  of  Pleajure  more  than 
lovers  of  Cod,  who  blafpheme  the  whole  Scheme  of  Religion, and 
ufe  that  Book  to  make  them  latigh,  which  makes  theDevils  trem- 
ble ;  who  rulh  into  the  Retirements  of  our  Worlhip,  the  Ordi- 
riar.ces  that  ought  to  be  kept  clean  and  holy  ;  I  fay,  we  hear  lit- 
tle of  their  Danger,  .  .0'  the  Scripture  hath  ^iven   us  the  fame 

dreadful 


8  ne  Ass  or,  The  Serpent. 

dreadful  Word  in  that  Cafe,  which  agrees  fo  well  with  them  in 
the  other  :  They  that  eat  and  drink  uTiiuorthily,  eat  and  drink  to 
themfelves  Da7nnation,  i  Cor.  ii.  29.  Thefe  are  the  Encroach- 
ments that  Slavery  will  make  upon  our  Religion. 

But  we  have  not  fo  learned  Chriji.  The  Apoftles  that  went 
about  with  the  Gofpel,  were  often  claiming  ths  Privileges  of  the 
Law.  For  this  did  /'/?«/ argue  with  the  Centurion  on  the  Stairs 
of  the  Caftle,  and  would  not  let  the  Chriftian  run  away  with  the 
Roman  :  For  this  did  he  threaten  to  Ihake  the  Government  of 
Philippi,  and  refufe  to  take  his  Liberty  at  that  eafy  rate,  of  go- 
ing out  of  the  Prifon  ;  No,  he  was  refolved  to  let  thofe  Ma- 
giltrates  know,  that  as  the  Laws  of  the  Empire  had  given  him 
a  Protedion,  fo  he  would  never  lofe  it  for  want  of  Zeal  ;  and 
though  the  Jaylor,  who  was  but  converted  the  Night  before, 
brought  him  the  \tS:A^z,  they  have  fent  to  let  you  go,  noiu  then 
'  depart  in  peace  \  yet  he  ufeth  the  Advantage  that  Innocence 
gave  him  over  Tyranny,  they  have  beaten  us  openly  and  uncon- 
demned,  beingRovians, and  have  cajl  us  intoPrifon,and  noiu  do  they 
thrufi  us  out  privily  ^nay  verily  hut  let  ^em  come  thevifelves  ib  fetch 
us  cM/,A(5lsi6.36,37.  So  tender  was  he  of  hisPrivileges,that  tho* 
he  knew  as  much  as  any  Man  how  to  defpife  the  Pomp  of  the 
World,  yet  in  this  cafe  he'll  infift  upon  a  Ceremony  that  perhaps 
was  never  demanded  before  ;  that  the  Magiftrates  of  the  Town 
Ihould  come  to  the  Prifon-door  and  beg  Pardon,  and  bring  them 
Outwhom  through  a  Miftakethey  had  put  In,  and  defire  them 
to  depart  from  their  City.  For  this  did  he  refufe  to  anfwer  the 
Summonsofr^y??//,  who  would  have  betray'd  him  to  his  Ene- 
mies, but  appealed  to  Cafar  \  and  from  this  Principle  did  he  deal 
fo  roundly  with  Annanias,  GodfI?all  fnite  thee  thou  riuhited  Wall, 
for  fit  left  thou  there  to  judge  me  according  to<ihe  Lanv,  and  com-; 
mandefi  me  to  he  fmitten  contrary  to  the  Law  F  Chap.  23.  3. 

This  is  the  Spirit  of  our  Relipon,  it  allows  none  of  the  Stu- 
pidity that  Jfl'achar  was  run  down  into  ;  for  aa  Afs  can  no 
more  be  a  Pattern  under  the  Gofpel,  than  it  could  be  a  Sacrifice 
under  the  Law.  But  it's  enough  we  are  told  what  fort  of 
Cre;itures  they  are,  by  the  Metaphor  in  my  Text ;  defpicable  to 
Men,  and  rejedted  by  God  ;  made  for  Service  and  Contempt. 
The  Comparifon  gives  us  the  Inweft  Opinion  of  thofe  to  whom 
it  belongs.  They  are  by  this  reprefcntedas  a  ftupid  fervile  Peo- 
ple, for  the  Word  fits  their  fleads  as  well  as  their  Shoulders. 

2.  THE  Crime  of  their  becoming  Servants  to  Tribute,  is  hint- 
«d  at  by  the  further  Account  wc  have  of  'cm,  that  they  lay  un- 
der 


The  Ass  ;  or,  The  Serpent.  5> 

der  no  neceffity  *  of  doing  it :  They  had  it  in  their  power  to  do 
otherwife,  and  might  have  compell'd  a  better  Lot  forthemfelve's 
and  their  Pofterity.  Had  they  been  drain'd,  and  weakcn'd,  and 
funk  down  to  an  Inabiiity,  that  which  was  now  both  their  Sin 
and  Puniihrnent,  had  been  only  the  Litter,  But  IJJ'achar  was  a 
Jircng  Afs,  able  to  Rcfufe  a  Load  as  well  as  to  Bear  it. 

Several  Annotators  give  us  this  Note  from  the  Hchrt-vj  Word, 
that  he  was  an  Jfs  of  Bom  ;  which  perhaps   is  a   further  Con- 
tempt of  him,  to  tell  us  his  want  of  Spirit,  as  if  he  was  only  Out- 
fidc,  a  meer  Shell  and  Frame  of  Nature  :  And  indeed  they  who 
lb  tamely  give  up  all  that  can  be  dear,  Ihovv  but   little    Soul    iu 
that  Surrender.     But  I  Ihall  take  the  Words  in  the  firfc  Senfe  I 
gave  you  of 'cm,  that  heis  call'd  n  Jlrovg   Jfs  ;  to  fignlfie,  that 
he  had  Capacity  to  have  done  otherways,  only  he  wanted  Heart 
and  Courage  to  ufe  it.     He  that  couch' d,U'xv7i  beinveoi  iivg  Bur- 
dens, might  eafily  have  protetled  againft'^Cue  •,  he  that  hotocdhis 
Shoulder  to  bear,  could  have  cloath'd  it  with  Armsur  :  And  the 
Wealth  with  which  he  paid   his  Tribute  as    a   Servant,    might 
have  led  him  into  the  Field  as  a  Rival. 

All  the  Inflanccs  that  we  have  in  Scripture  of  Submlffion  to  an 
unrighteous  Power,  reprefentthe  People  as  not  able  to  do  other- 
ways.  We  never  once  find  a  good  Man  neglecting  to  refill:  an 
Injuilice  whin   he  could  do  it.     Mofes  indeed  fled  from  Phara'jh 

B  becauti 


The  Circumltances  of  the  Americans  are  luch,  that  they  are  unuer  no 
Neceffity  of  giving  theirNecks  to  the  Yoke.  This  Continent  is  bleiied 
with  all  the  Neceli'aries,  and  moft  of  theConvenienccs  of  Life,and  migb'c 
ftipport  an  hundred  Times  its  prefent  Number  of  Inhabitants,  widiovt 
borrowing  a  lingie  Article  from  any  other  Quirter  of  the  Globe  ;  an-l 
if  thePeopie  hadWifdom  andRefolution  enou[i;h  to  improve  thefe  natural 
Advantages,  by  encouragingManufaclures  of  thcirown,  and  bjf  puttin'^- 
a  general  Stop  to  the  [mportation  of  foreign  Manufa<5lures,  G.  Britain, 
inftcad  of  treating  us  as  Slaves,wouldbe  coni\rained  to  court  curFriend- 
firip  and  Alliance. — As  to  the  idleTlireat  of  fending  Troops  to  dra:^oon 
us  into  SubrnifTion  to  unjuftitiabie  UCurpations,  it  is  a  mrre  Bugbear  ; 
for  fuppafing  in  Tome  future  Time,  an  abandoned  Miniltry  (hould  pro- 
pole  to  a  weaic  Prince,  to  fend  a  powsrful  Army  againil  us,  can  it  be 
tho't  thatG.  Britain,  as  a  Nation,  v^ndd  be  fo  (tupld  as  to  fuffcr  aMt-a- 
fure,  which  would  infallibly  expofe  theiri  to  tlic  Ravages  of  French 
Troops  ;  or  would  the  Proteftant  Part  of  tV\e  People  confent  to  an  Ex- 
pedit'on,  which  would,  v/ithout  doubt,  in  the  End,  fix  the  Crown  upon 
a  p{ipifh  Head  ?  No  IVirely.  Greit  Britain  has  no  Cord  by  which  ftie  r.nn 
bind  down  the  Colonies  to  Slavery,  but  their  own  Cowardice  andca-H;- 

ciou*  Foruin 'fs  for  Britirn  Manufa(!i>ures r-V/ere  we  induflriouily    .-: 

cultivate  the  goodly  Htrit-jgCj  v^lii;'.i  h.v,  falltn  tc  our  Lot,  we  mi^hl  b; 
flee, rich  anJ  happy. 


10  The  Ass  ;  or,  The  Serpent, 

bccaufe  he  had  no  profpedl  of  conquering  him  ;  but  when  he 
had  to  do  only  with  a  fingle£'^;f/^//^;;  who  was  fmithig  one  of 
lis  Brethren,  he's  no  longer  about  it  than  whiJlt  he  looks  this 
nvay  arid  that  -way,  and  then  he  kills  him,  and  hideth  hitn  in  the 
Sands,  X^od.  2.  II,  12.  And  this  is  fo  far  from  having  the 
Ceniure,  that  a  Slave  would  give  it,  that  upon  that  Aclion  he 
was  in  hopes  to  have  raifed  his  Publick  Charader,  and  by  this 
jufticeupoa  the  Officer,  thought  to  have  led  on  that  of  the  Peo- 
ple itpon  the  King,  as  the  Martyr  Stephen  tells  us ;  for  lie  brings 
in  this  as  the  Reafon  \\\\y  feeing  one  of  the  Jenvs  fuffer  nvroTig,  he 
avenged  him  that  nvas  oppre£'ed,  and  fmoie  the  Egyptian,  becaufe 
hs  fuppofed his  Brethren  luould  have  underjiood,  hoiv  that  by  his 
hand  God  'would  have  delivered  them,  hut  they  underjiood  not.  If 
their  Zeal  would  have  come  on  as  faft  as  his  would  have  led  it, 
they  might  have  been  faved  then;  but  they  loft  40  Years  by 
their  unbelief,  David  run  away  from  Saul,  when  he  had  no 
I'riend  to  ftand  by  him,  but  he  put  himfelf  at  the  Head  of  a  lit- 
tle Army  as  foon  as  he  could  ;  and  the  only  Reafon  why  he  did 
not  give  him  Battle  was,  becaufe  he  had  not  Force  enough  :  But 
Avhen  thofe  great  Numbers  came  to  him  every  day,  he  makes  no 
fcruple  to  go  out  into  the  Field,  for  there  fell  fome  of  Mana[[eh 
Xo  David  nuhen  he  came  'viith  the  Philiflines  againji  Saul  to  Bat' 
tie,   I  Chron.   12.  19. 

A  juft  and  holy  God  may  indeed  <leliver  us  over  to  the  Will 
of  evil  Men  ;  but  to  fay,  that  he  would  have  us  deliver  up  our- 
felyes,  is  to  blafpheme  his  Empire  ;  for  he  hath  no  Fellonvjhip 
nvith  the  Thrones  of  Iniquity,  inho  frame  Mifchief  by  a  La'vj,  Pfal. 
94.  20.  That  which  held  Zinn  Captivity,  was  God's  making 
her  Strength  to  fail  ;  He  had  delivered  her  into  their  Hands  again]} 
I'jhom  Jhc  'was  not  able  to  rife  up.  Lam.  i.  14  ;  But  when  Ihe 
had  more  Strength,  there's  a  new  Exhortation  to  ufe  it  ;  Shake 
thy felf  from  the  Dufl,  0  Jerufalem  ;  loofe  thy  felf from  the  Bands 
cf  thy  Neck,  0  thou  captive  Daughter  of  Z ion,  lia.  52.  I. 

In  thefc  two  things  you  have  the  woful  Temperof  this  People  7 
•  They  were  ftupid,   and  not  to   be  impreft  by  a   generous   Argu- 
ment ;  and  tho' it's  true,  they  had   Strength  and   Capacity,  yet 
it  was  all  thrown  away  upon  a  lazy  Nature,  tha*  would  not  ufe 
it.     Jffuchar  is  a  flrong  Afs  couching  doivn  bctn\)een  t-wo  Burdens. 

(2.)  WE  have  the  folly  of  their  Behaviour,  and  are  told,  how 
foon  they  part  with  their  Liberties.  And  here  you  meet  with 
Bondiige  in  every  Form  and  Shape.  Here's  OpprelTion  in  all  its 
W^cl^ht,  he Ulh  bLtij.ee/j  iivo  Burdefis.     Here's  a    Slavery  to  his 

Pcrlbn, 


nc  Ass  ;  or,  The  Serpent.  ii 

Perfon,  /;//  Shoulder  is  brought  to  hear  what  they  lay  upon  him. 
Here's  Poverty  In  his  Concerns,  he  becomes  a  Servant  to  Tribute  ; 
and  here's  a  Neccffity  for  him  to  be  Aiftive  in  all  this.  Opprcf- 
fion  ftupifies  the  Faculties,  he  couches  donvn  beneath  his  Burdens, 
he  bonvs  his  Shoukier,  he  confents  to  be  a  Servant  :  What  a 
Gulph  of  Perdition  was  this  People  funk  into  ?  Whither  will  Ty- 
ranny lead  thofe  who  huve  the  Heart  to  follow  it  ?  Can  we  ever 
begin  to  flop  too  foon,  when  it  will  befo  dreadful  to  have  it  too 
late  ? 

I.  YOU  obferve  here  what  weight  this  Oppreffion  was  laid  on 
with  :  'Twas  not  what  RehoboamxhvfA\.v\tdi,  the  Heavinefs  of  a 
little  Finger  ;   but  he  couches  doivri  betnveen  tavo  Burdens. 

Some  ^ran^ate  this  between  two  Hills  ;  and  underRand  it  of 
the  Situation  that  Ifackar  had  in  the  Land  of  Canaan  :  Others 
fuppofe  that  it  refers  to  the  Quarrels  they  might  have  with  thofe 
Two  Tribes  that  lay  on  each  Side  of  'em  ;  but  the  Words  feem 
to  tell  us  what  a  Load  of  Mifery  they  had  brouglit  thcmfelves 
under. 

TYRANTS,  who  know  no  Juftice,  will  allow  no  Mercy  ; 
they  never  think  their  Grandeur  advanc'd  high  enough  ;  they'll 
fet  no  bounds  to  the  Lull:  of  Empire,  but  let  it  rove  in  all  the 
Licenfe  of  their  own  Fancy.  Do  not  imagine  that  there's  any 
dealing  with  an  Arbitrary  Government.  Laws  are  only  Shackles 
upon  you,  but  no  Rule  to  'em.  Some  remove  Land  Marks,  they 
violently  Jake  aiuay  Flocks  and  Feed  thereon,  they  turn  the  Nee- 
di  out  of  the  nuay,  the  Poor  of  the  Earth  hide  theinfclves  together  : 
Behold  as  the  ivild  Af'cs  of  the  Defer  t  they  go  forth  to  Work,  rijing 
betimes  for  a  Prey,  Job.  24.  2,  3,  6"^.  and  its  the  tame  AfTes  of 
the  Villages  that  fall  into  their  Hands  :  They  caufe  the  Naked 
to  go  imthdut  cloathing,  he  hath  no  covering  in  the  Cold  ;  they  pluck 
ih^  Faiherlefs  from  the  Brrafl,  and  take  a  Pledge  of  the  Poor  ,• 
ihey  take  anuay  the  Sheaf  from  the  Hungry  :  Men  groan  out  of  tht 
City,  and  the  Soul  of  the  Wounded  cries  out . 

If  you  would  not  couch  donun  between  *  Tivo  Burden^,  you 
muil  enter  an  eitefiaal  Proteft  againft  One  :   For   they  that  fub- 

B  2  not, 


Many  Ptrfons  at  tliis  Time  plead  that  the  Duties  impofed  on  the  Ame- 
ricans by  the  late  A6l^  of  Parliament,  are  Co  light  as  not  to  be  worth 
contending  about,  altno'  they  may  not  be  (h-jctly  juft  ;  this  is  certainly 
a  molt  trifling  Way  of  arguing,  even  fuppofine;  the  Sums  were  as  fmrtU 
as  they  would  leprtlcnt,  (which  is  very  tar  from  being  the  Truth)  for 
never  wis  a  Sclieme  laid  to  endave  a  People  unditr  the  Sanction  of  prs- 

tcn^ei 


12  T'he  Ass  ;  or,  77j^  Serpent. 

mit,  will,  in  a  little  Time,  be  brought  to  that  pafs ;  Her  Car- 
riages •were  heavy  loader,,  they  are  a  Burden  to  the  iveary  Beajif 
they  JJoGp,  they  bo'W  down  together,  they  cou/d  not  deliver  their  Bur- 
den, but  tkettifclves  are  gone  into  Captivity,  Ifa.  46.  I,  2.  Thus 
did  the  AimnoHites  with  the  Men  of  JabeJJ?  Cilead  ;  the'  the 
poor  People  would  have  fubmitted  themfelves  unto  'era, yet  they 
will  allow  of  no  eafier  Terms  than  thrujitng  out  the  right  Eye^ 
and  laying  it  as  a  Reproach  upon  all  Jfrael,  i  Sam.  11.  2.  So 
unlimited  did  Benhadad  take  himfelf,  in  the  Court  of  a  Man, 
■who  ha  J  gone  too  far,  in  faying.  My  Lord,  0  King,  I  a?n  thincy 
and  all  that  I  have  :  He  does  not  only  claim  his  Silver  and  Gold, 
but  his  IVives  and  Children  ;  and  would  fend  his  Servants  the 
tiext  Day  to  take  out  ijjhat  nvas  pleafant  in  their  Eyes. 

This  made  David XA\.\\tv  chafe  X-o  fall  into,  the  Hands  of  God^ 
than  into  thofe  of  Man  :  Not  but  that  the  former  could  havede- 
ftroy'd  him  with  more  Expedition  than  the  latter ;  bur  ivith  the 
Lord  there  nvas  Mercy,  with  Men  there  is  none.  And  indeed 
the  Procefs  hath  been  very  fhort  ;  When  once  a  Tyrant  hath 
faid  your.  Laws  were  his.  He  hath  foon  come  to  affirm  your 
Lives  were  fo  too.  And  therefore  its  the  fame  thing  being  his 
Vaffals,  and  being  his  Cattle.  All  that  yowh-xwt  pertaining  to 
Life  and  Godlinefs,  is  thrown  in  as  a  Morfel  to  Cafar  :  They 
take  up  all  of  them  ijjith  the  ^^ns^le,  they  catch  them  ivith  their 
Net,  and  gather  them  in  their  Drag,  therefore  they  rejoice  and  are 
glad;  They  luill  empty  continually,  and  not  f[)are  to  flay  the  Na- 
tions, Hab.  I.  ult.  And  how  unhappy  wiuil  theCafe  of  a  People 
be  who  iiever  know  wheathey  have  done  Sullering  ?  Such  aGo- 

vernment 


tended  Law,  without  an  Endeavor  to  make  the  Burthen  fo  light,  as 
tj\at  it  might,  by  the  gcHcrality  of  the  Vi6iim«;,  be  diiregarded  at  fiift 
and  not  felt,  until  it  is  out  of  their  Power  to  remedy  it.  If  we  pay  one 
Ptnny  purel)'  becaufe  the  Parliament  of  G.  B.  hnve  ordered  us  to  pay 
It,  we  mu!t,  whenever  they  uleaie,  pay  a  Shilling  or  a  Pmind  purely  b«- 
caufe  they  have  ordered  it — And  the  prel'eni  involved  State  oftheBritiHi 
Nation,  the  Rapacity  and  Profu.'enei's  of  many  of  her  great  M.r,  the' 
r-rodit'lous  Number  cf  their  Dependents,  who  ■.▼ant  to  be  grt.tified  wiih 
I'ome  Oftice  which  may  enable  them  to  live  lazily  upon  the  Labc;ur  of 
ether'?,  muft  convince  us,  that  ve  fliall  be  taxed  fo  long  as  we  liave  a 
Penny  to  pay  ;  and  thatnev/  Offices  will  be  conftitutcd,  and  newOflicers 
palmed  upon  us,  until  the  Number  is,  lb  great,  that  we  cannot  by  our 
con(t:int  Labour  and  Toll  mrnBtain  any  more. — For  the  Injuftice  of  liv- 
in?r  by  the  Sweat  of  another's  Biow,  the  Cruelty  of  wrcnchino  from  the 
weaiii'd,  iiimgry  Labc;  -.er,  the  Reward  of  his  Indultiy,  never  make 
any  ImprelTion  on  the  iiin'y  Erw-alls  of  tkoie  w^o  think  IvL<n>..ind  were 
pudc  to  be  \.h*'n-  ^kves. 


The  Ass;  or,  7^6^  Serpent.  13 

vernment  upon  Earth  refemblcs  one  of  the  worfl  Ideas  that  we 
have  ot  Hell  ;  where  there  is  no  Sacrifice  for  Sin,  but  a  certain 
fearful  locking  for  of  more  Judgment  and  ntw  Indignation. 

1.  THEIR  Perfons  were  made  vile  and  contemptible,  they  bono 
their  Shoulders  to  bear.  There  are  fome  Ufagcs  which  God  al- 
ways reckon'd  an  Indignity  to  Human  Nature.  'Tis  for  this, 
reafon  that  he  limited  the  Number  of  Stripes  that  were  to  be 
given  to  a  Malefactor,  leji  thy  Brother  feem  vile  to  thee  :  And  the 
Statute  of  Murder  is  laid  out  upon  this  ground,  That  in  tht 
Image  of  Cod  made  he  Man.  Such  an  Oppreffion  did  the  Jenus 
live  under  in  Egypt ;  their  Burdens  were  very  grievous  in  the 
Bricklins,  the  Task-mafters  oblig'd  them  to  their  whole  Quantity 
of  Work  tho'  they  denied  them  Straiv,  and  then  punifht  'em  for 
not  doing  what  they  knew  to  be  impoffible. 

When  this  comes  to  be  the  Lot  of  fuch  as  give  up  their  Li- 
berties, the  Juftice  of  God  calls  for  our  Adoration  ;  they  that 
have  lived  in  Pleafure  and  Vanity,  are  mod  likely  to  make  a  Sale 
of  all  that  they  have  ;  they  have  eaten  the  Bread  of  Idlenefs^ 
and,  How  righteous  is  it  with  Heaven  to  give  'em  that  of  Sor- 
row ?  That  they  who  are  brought  up  in  Scarlet,  fhould  embrace 
Dunghills?  Thisis  one  Confequence  of  Slavery  ;  and  it  fell  hea- 
vily upon  the  Priefts  at  Jerufalew,  who  might  remember  their 
Sin  in  their  Punifhment  :  They  that  us'd  to  lead  the  Blind, 
came  to  ivander  as  blind  Men  in  the  Streets,  and  fo  pollutcdnvitf> 
Blood,  that  Men  could  not  touch  their  Garments  :  The  Anger  of 
the  Lord  divided  'eiu,  and henvould no  viore  regard  'em.  Lam.  4.  1 4. 
An  Abfolute  Government  Swallows  as  faft  as  you  can  Give,  and. 
What  wrll  this  come  to  in  time  ?  But  the  hanging  up  of  Princes 
by  the  Hand,  not  honouring  the  Faces  of  the  Elders,  taking  the 
young  Men  to  Grind,  and  making  the  Children  fall  under  the  IVood, 
Ch.   5.   12,   13. 

3.  It  runs  nut  into  Poverty.  This  flaying  of  Tribute,  mu(i  he 
underftood  of  exccdive  Taxes  ;  Impofitions  that  are  enough  to 
drain*  aCouniry  :  Not  v^hal  a  People    confent  f  to  for  their 

own 


It  is  computed  that  the  Dr.t'es  to  Be  paid  by  the  Inhabitants  cf  thi'Pro- 
\incc  only,  in  Con.'equence  of  former  and  lare  Ads  of  Parliament,  and 
the  Fees  demrinded  by  the  Cuflom-Houie  nnd  Navai-Ofiicevft,  will  a- 
mount  to  na  id's  tiinn  Six  Hundred Thoufand  Pounds  Old  Tenor  aniiu- 
ally  ;  and  tho"  we  may  charit?biy  fupjKTc  that  /bme  Part  cf  t'.ii-i  Sum 
will  be  retained  in  the  Hr.ndsofiheOn'icers,  yet  it  is  likely  that  Inch  a 
^rent  Part  (.fit  wii!  be  i'cvt  home,  .is  will  fbo'n  drain  the  Country  cf  all 
us  Sliver  and  Gold.     TheMii,fomme  of  a  People  ta.'icd  by  a  forei,<jn 

bta'*e, 


14  T^he  Ass  or,  The  Serpent. 

own  Defence,  but  what  arc  extorted  from  them.  And  then  what 
fignifies  the  Goodnefs  of  the  Land,  when  the  Profits  are  oifered 
up  as  a  Sacrifice  to  the  Luxury  of  a  Stranger  ?  Thus  hath  a 
fruitful  Land  been  brought  into  Barreunefs.  The  Houfes  of  the 
People  were  made  a  Dunghill ;  and  they  that  have  liv'd  in  tho 
miiil  of  ^Xtnty,  fought  their  Bread  to  relieve  their  Souls.  They 
confent  to  the  loweft.  Terms  meerly  to  enjoy  what  Nature  had 
made  their  own  :  IVe  have  given  the  Hand  to  the  Jjjyrian  to  be 
fatisfiediuith  Bread,  Lam.  5.  6.  and,  better  are  they  that  perifh 
by  the  Sivord,  than  fuch  as  are  fricken  through  for  ivant  of  the 
Fruits  of  the  Field  :  It  Was  a  dreadful  Article  in  their  judgmeat, 
thine  Enemy  f  jail  dijirefs  thee  in  all  thy  Gates.   Deut.  28. 

4.  That  which  makes  the  Cafe  deplorable  to  the  laft  Degree, 
is,  that  the  People  themfelves  concur  in  it,  either  through  a  Ne- 
ceffity,  or  the  Habit  of  Bondage.  They  bonu  their  own  Shoulder 
to  bear  ;  and,  by  an  unaccountable  Mixture  of  Choice  andForce, 
become  Servants  to  Tribute.  When  a  Nation  hath  given  up 
their  Liberties,  they  do  not  only  lofe  the  Thing,  but  all  theTafte 
they  us'd  to  have  of  it. 

And  this  may  be  confidered  both  as  a  growing  Vice,  and  aStu- 
pidity  that  the  righteous  God  hath  fealed  'em  up  under.  The 
Mifery  of  fuch  a  Cafe  hath  this  in  it,  that  the  People  are  never 
likely  to  remember  from  'whence  they  are  fallen  or  do  their  frji 
Works  ;  they  Jleep  a  perpetual  Sleep,  and  do  not  aivake.  'Tis  not 
a  Damage  thatfets  them  a  Thiaking,  or  warms  a  powerful  Zeal 
to  recover  what  they  have  loft  ;  but  by  a  long  Courfc  of  Subjec- 
jedion  it  becomes  their  own  Ad. 

^ (3-)r" 

State,  vpoujd  be  much  greater  on  this  Accouut,  than  if  the  Inipofcrs  of 
the  lax  refideil  amongft  thein  :  For  altho'  they  might  unjultJy  extort 
from  them  their  Money,  yet  as  it  would  lUll  be  in  the  Country,  they 
poflibiy  might  at  feme  Time,  by  fonie  Means,  get  Part  of  it  a^ain  : 
But  when  it  is  fcnt  Three  Thouiand  Miles  over  Sea,  it  is  not  very  likely 
to  return. 

f  The  Kight  of  Taxation,  mnft,  by  the  Law  of  Nature,  which  gives  every 
Man  a  Power  to  difpole  cf  Jiis  own  Property,  belong  lolely  to  the  Peo- 
ple who  are  to  pay  the  Tax  :  and  the  BritifliConftitution  hath  borrowed 
from  Nature  this  Maxim,  That  no  Man  fiall  be  taxed  n.vitkout  hisConfent^ 
which  is  the  GrandPillar  on  which  EnglifliLiberty  and  Property  Ibnds. 
Can  apropie  then  be  bound  by  an  Aft  which  contradifts  the  great  Law 

,  <if  Nature,  whicii  is  originally  from  God  ?  Or,  can  an  Ehglirtunan 
fubmit  to  an  Inftitution  which  laps  the  Foundation  of  Englilh  Liberty 
and  Englifti  Properly  ?  But  certain  it  is,  that  the  late  Act  of  Parliament 
i'.  a  Tax  withoMt  our  Confent,  a  taking  our  Property  without  lo  much 
i-s  coniulting-  us  ;  But  I  seed  draw  np  more  Cohlequcnces. 


The  Ass  or,  The  Serpent.  15 

(3.)  I'll  enquire  into  the  Reafons  they  give  for  this  Negleft  of 
'emfclves,  or  what  it  is  they  get  in  Exchange  for  their  Liberties  ; 
and  you  find  there  are  two  Things  that  leave  'em  under  the 
Power  of  this  Infatuation. 

1,  What  they  reckon  the  Favour  of  the  Enemy,  Theyfaiu  that 
ReJ}  ivas  good. 

2.  The  natural  Advantages  of  their  Country,  The  Land  it 
ixias  plcafant . 

1.  They  fee  that  Rcjl  is  good  ;  which  fhews  us  how  their  Judg- 
ment is  perverted,  to  fuppofe  that  there  can  be  any  fuch  Thing 
as  ReJI,  while  the  Yoke  of  Tyranny  hangs  upon  their  Shouldei'S. 
Now,  this  Opinion  hath  its  only  Root  in  Cowardife  andLazinefs. 
They  dread  the  noble  Toil  of  War.tho'  the  Hazards  People  run 
that  Way,  are  far  from  being  equal  to  thofe  of  a  flavifhTemper, 
you  can  fcarce  lofe  fo  much  by  venturing,  as  you  give  away  by 
fubmitting.  Whilft  the  Jeiuj  refifted  Sennecharib,  they  had  what 
we  call  a  Chance  for  it  ;  but  he  tells  them  roundly,  If  they  t/iade 
ati  Agreement  nvith  him  by  Prefents,  it  muft  end  in  his  taking  ^em 
aivay  from  their  sivn  Land.  And  is  this  the  Rejl  nxjhere'with  they^ 
ivould  caufe  theiveary  to  lie  doivn  ?  Is  this  all  that  a  People  gee 
by  throwing  themfelves  upon  the  Mercy  of  a  Tyrant  ?  We  may- 
well  fay,  Arife  and  depart,  this  is  not  yeurReJi,  becaitfe  it^s  pol- 
luted, Mic.  2.  10. 

2.  The  Benefits  of  their  Country  was  another  Thing  that 
foften'd  'em  into  this  Compliance,  They  fanv  that  the  Land  'wat 
plcafant.  They'd  no  mind  to  be  carried  off,  becaufe  here  was 
enough  for  their  own  Necefllty,  and  for  the  Humour  of  him  to 
whom  they  paid  Tribute.  But  what  a  poor  Argument  is  this  ? 
If  the  Place  was  iogood,  itdefeivedto  be  fought  for  :  If  thePro- 
duce  of  Nature  there  was  fo  great,  'tis  pity  that  they  fhould  have 
All  of  the  Profit  who  had  None  of  the  Pains.  Thus  they  plead- 
ed upon  their  Return  out  of  Captivity,  the  Land  that  thou  haji 
given  to  our  Fathers,  to  eat  tleFru.it  thereof,  a, 'J  the  Good  thereof y 
liehcld  ive  are  Servants  in  it  ;  and  it  fields  much  Increafe  to  the 
Kings  'vjho7n  thou  hafi  fet  over  us  becaufe  of  our  Sins  ;  alfo  they 
have  Dominion  over  our  Bodies,  and  over  our  Cattle  at  thtirP lea- 
fur  e,  and  'voe  arc  in  great  Diflrefs,  Neh.  9     36,  37. 

Thus  have  I  laid  out  to  you  the  former  of  thefe    Charaders, 
and  fhown  you  how  poor  a  Figure  Jfj'achar  made  in  the  V/orid. 
But, 
II.  We  have  an  Account  of  better  Things  in  theBlefling  that 
he  proneunceth  upon  another  Tribe.  Dan  pall  judge  his  People 

like 


1 6  The  Ass  ;  or,  The  Serpent. 

like  one  of  ths  Tribes  of  Ifrael  \  Dan  fh all  be  a  Serpent  by  thelVay, 
and  an  Adder  in  the  Path,  that  bites  his  Horfe's  Heels,  fo  that  his 
liider  falls  hack^Mard  ;  1  have   'waited  for  thy  Salvation,  0  Lord. 

What  is  faiJ  of  this  brave  People,  is  ib  plain  a  Reverfe  to  the 
Me^nnefs  of  the  other,  that  a  very  little  Enlargement  will  ferve 
here. 

1.  He  begins  with  a  ncv?  fort  of  Language  to  give  us  the  De- 
fcription  of  thefe.  What  they  did  would  be  worthy  the  Name 
they  derived  from  llieir  Father  ;  Dan  Jhall  judge  his  People  like 
fine  of  the  Tribes  of  Ifrael. 

2.  We  have  the  Meafures  that  he  will  take  in  order  to  it; 
and  that  is,  the  Ufe  both  of  his  Policy  and  Courage  :  He  is  like 
a  Serpent  by  the  IVay^  and  an  Adder  in  the  Path,  and,  rather  than 
be  trampled  on,  he'' II  bite  the  Horfes  Heels  %  he'll  undermine  the 
Foundations  of  Tyranny,  yc>  that  the  Rider  nuill  fall  back-vjards . 

3.  Thefe  noble  Dcfigns  are  what  y<7£-o^  recommends' to  the 
Bleffing  of  God,  in  that  Prophetic  Rapture,  /  have  ivaited  for 
thy  Salvation,  0  Lord  ! 

(i.)  We  have  a  general  Honour  put  upon  them.  Dan  fhalt 
judge  his  People  like  one  of  the  Tribes  of  Ifrael.  What  judging 
of  his  People  means,  I  had  occafion  to  faow  you  the  laft  Year  ; 
That  it  includes  an  Execution  gf  their  Laws,  and  a  Defending 
of  their  Liberties  from  any  that  would  opprefs  them.  And  this 
wc  find  that  Sampfon  did,  who  was  of  That  Tribe,  and  paid  iefs 
Regard  to  an  Enemy,  in  v>?hofe  Country  he  lived,  than  any  of 
the  Judges.  Now,  do  but  confider  how  diis  is  plac'd  in  a  full 
Oppofition  to  vi'hat  was  faid  of  Ijfachdr  ;  and  from  thence  you 
may  colle('i,  That  thofe  Rulers  do  not  judge  their  People,  who 
perfwade  *  'em  to  banu  doivn  under  tnvo  Burdens  :  Theie  are  in- 
confiRent  with  one  another. 

But  what  I  would  obferve  to  you,  is,  the  honourable  Turn  he 
giveslhis,  That  it's  doing  like  One  of  the  Tribes  of  Ifrael :  As  if 
they  thatnegled  it  weie  funk  below  the  Name.  But  Dan  kept 
up  the  Dignity  of  his  Family,  and  fhow'd  that  his  Defcent  from 
fo  many  Patriarchs  was  not  in  vain.  Thole  antient  Worthies, 
whom  God  had  calTd  out  from  the  reft  of  the  World,  led  him 

the 


It  is  the  Duty  of  good  Magiftrates  to  preferve  the  Liberties  of  the 
People  over  whom  they  pieCule  ;  and  whenever,  from  a  Delire  to 
aggrandize  ihemlelves,  they  endeavour  to  perlvvadc  a  People  to  lubm;t 
to  arbitrary  Infiiniienwntsi  of  their  Kiglits,  they  not  only  fofeit  the-ir 
Title  to  the  Rdpeft  which  belongs  to  a  good  Ruler,  tut  vlelcive  <.• 
be  tjcatsd  with  Ux*.  Sevtritvduc  to  u  T^ait^r. 


*The  Ass  or,  The  Serpent.  17 

the  way  t»  it.  One  of  the  moft  remarkableThings  that  Alraham 
did  ia  a  public  Manner,  v.'as  the  taking  of  F/f^AVw^/  Captive,Gtr\. 
13.  I,  2.  tho'  the  People  in  whofe  Quarrel  he  mingled  himfelf, 
are  thefirji  Rebels  we  read  of :  He  had  Armour  ready  for  three 
hundred  and  eighteen  Men,  train'd  up  in  his  Houfe.  Upon  his 
Return  from  this  Slaughter,  Melckifedek,  the  Prieji  of  the  moji 
high  God,  vieets  ^;>/;,and  gives  him  ^{oltvanBleffing  in  His  Name, 
who  is  the  PoJJ'efor  of  Heaven  and  Earth.  And  tho'  it's  true,  he 
refus'd  to  be  made  rich  by  the  Spoils,  yet  the  right  that  he  had 
to  bring  down  and  plunder  fo  many  Tyrants,  appears  irom  his 
paying  Tythes  to  Melchifedek  ;  for  we  cannot  think  that  he 
would  have  brought /?(9^^^r>' /or  a  Burnt-Offering.  Jacob  xtco- 
ver'd  a  Part  of  the  Land  ou//^  his  Snxiord,  and  his  Bo'w  out  of  the 
Hand  of  the  Aviorites  ;  nay,  he  had  the  Name  of  Ifrael  given 
hiJn  in  the  Field  of  Battle,  becaufe  by  his  Strength  he  laid  hold  of 
the  Angel,  and  had  Poiuer  both  nvith  God  and  Man,and  prevailed: 
So  that  Cowardice,  in  any  of  his  Pofl;erity,was  a  Departure  from 
that  noble  Spirit  their  Fathers  had  been  eminent  for. 

And  efpecially,  if  you'll  confider  'em  as  a  People  fet  apart  to 
the  Worfhip  of  God,  they  were  bound  to  run  all  Hazards  in  de- 
fending what  he  gave  'em.  When  they  were  frighted  with  the 
Anakims,  faint-hearted,  and  durft  not  go  on,  it  was  ading  fo  far 
below  themfelves,  that  he  will  fcarce  own  'em  to  be  his  People  ; 
but  fays,  That  it's  a  Generation  that  do  err  in  their  Hearts,  they 
kneiu  not  his  IVays.  Their  Spirits  had  a  wrong  Turn,  and  he 
fworc,  That  they  JJyall  never  enter  into  his  Rcjl  ;  And  if  they 
fliould  allow  an  Enemy  to  break  in  ujJon  the  Land  of  their  Pof- 
fefllon,  it  was  diftionourable  to  their  Name  :  But  Dan  bears  up 
the  old  Figure,  and  in  judging  of  his  People,  is  like  oneoftkeTribef 
ef  Ifrael. 

(2.)  Here  are  the  Ways  that  he  takes  to  do  it.  Where  you 
may  obferve, 

1.  The  Policy  and  Wifdom  of  this  People  :  They  are  com- 
par'd  to  Serpents  and  Adders. 

2.  Their  Courage,  or  the  Hazard  they  run  :  They'll  throw 
themfelves  into  the  Path,  venture  being  crufti'd,  rather  than  lofe 
their  End. 

3.  Their  Refolution  to  have  the  Blefling  whatever  it  coft  * 
'em  :  If  they  can't  difmount  a  Tyrant  by  mere  Force,  they'll^//* 
his  Horfe's-Heels,  fo  that  the  Rider  Jhall fall  back'ward. 

C  I.  They 

•  liberty  can  never  be  purchased   too   dear — Life  irfelf  is  a  Bi^then  to 
thole  who  groao  under  the  lien  Yoke  of  Slavery. 


1 8  The  Ass  ;  ©r,  The  Serpen\ 

t.  They  are  reprefentedasa  wife  and  well-inftrufted  People  ;^ 

a  Serpent  in  the  Way,  an  Adder  in  the  Path.  Doubtlefs  IJfachar 
thought  it  a  good  Prwc/d-w//.;//  to  humble  themfelves,  and  hold 
their  Lives  upon  no  other  Tenure  than  the  Will  of  a  Prince  ; 
but//;//  their  JVay  'was  their  Felly.  Dan  takes  his  Maxims  as  they 
rile  from  the  plain  Welfare  of  the  Community  :  He'll  neither  be 
hector 'd  nor  wheedled  out  of  his  Privileges ;  he'll  lofe  'em  neither 
by  War  nor  Treaty  :  As  he's  Serpent  enough  to  underftand 
what's  beft  for  him  ;  fo,  like  the  Adder,  hejiops  his  Ears  againjl 
the  Voice  of  the  Charmer,  charming  never  fo  'wifely. 

The  want  of  fuch  a  Spirit,  is  the  Prefage  of  Ruin.  Thou  haji 
hid  theirUearts  from  Underfanding,  therefore  thoiifhalt  not  exalt 
them,-  Job  17.4.  Chrift  himfelf  hath  bid  his  People  take  to  'em  the 
Wifdom  of  the  Serpent ;  tbo'  here  I  would  not  have  you  miftakc 
this  for  the  mere  Wrigling  of  that  Creature.  Fraud  andArtifice, 
lurking  Ways,  and  lying  Words,  are  as  much  below  the  Wifdom 
that  will  fave  a  Nation,  as  they  are  againft  the  Honefty  thatmuft 
fave  a  Soul.  Thofe  Men  that  eame  to  David,  and  had  under- 
Jianding  of  the  Times,  and  kne'w  ivhat  Ifrael  ought  to  do,  found 
that  the  Wifdom  of  the  Serpent  was  confiilent  with  the  Inno- 
cence of  the  Dove. 

2.  Befjdes  a  Capacity  to  contrive  what  is  beft,  here's  a  Courage 
to  execute  it.  This  is  a  Tribe  that  Mofes  fpeaks  well  of  in  the 
Bleffiiig  that  he  gave  'em.  DaJi  is  a  Lyon's  Whelp,  and  he  fh all 
leap  from  BaJJyan,  Deut.  33.  22.  And  we  may  obfervc  a  Cha- 
ra-fler  of  that  fort  in  the  Vcrfe  before  us.  That  he'll  venture  him- 
felf as  a  Serpent  in  the  Way,  as  an  Adder  in  the  Path  ;  he'll  run 
the  Hazard  of  being  trampled  under  foot,  rather  than  take  up 
with  the  poor  and  icanty  Terms  that  an  Enemy  gives  him.  'Tis 
better  being  crufli'd  at  oace,  than  condemn'd  to  a  miferable  Ex- 
illence  :  And  thefe  are  things  that  will  deliver  a  People  over  to 
the  Voice  of  Fame  :  The  good  EReern  and  hearty  Wiflies  of  the 
World  will  be  to  fuch  as  offer  thernfdves  nuillingly,  and  jeopard 
their  Lives  in  the  high  Places  of  the  Field. 

g.  They  are  determin'd  to  have  the  Bleffingat  any  Expence  : 
Nor  wIH  they  lofe  Things  for  want  of  meer  Names  and  Forms  ; 
they'll  endeavour  to  bring  down  a  Tyrant  by  his  own  Methods, 
if  all  the  refk  (hall  fail  :  And  when  he  defigns  to  ride  over  Li- 
berty and  Religion,  if  they  cannot  ftop  his  Career,  they'll  break 
his  Neck  ;  the  very  Horfe's  Heels,  which  Ihould  have  ruin'd- 
Them,  fliall  receive  the  Wound  that  will  prove  fatal  to  Him.  And 
indeed  when  a  People  are  thus  inclin'd  to  loofe  the  Bands  of  their 

Captivity, 


TJoe  Ass;  or,  77?^  Serpent.  19 

Captivity,  it's  no  very  hard  Matter  to  humble  the  Wicked  by 
the    Mcafures    they    have  taken.      Violence  and  Iniquity  do  not 
'fo  eafily  carry  their  Load,  but,  in  a  little  Timi,  their  Rider  may 
fall  backivard. 

(5.)  WHEN  7<j(r(?^  hath  thus  defcrib'd  his  Son  by  the  brave 
Meafures  that  he'll  take,  he  recommends  the  whole  Defif^n  t^ 
the  Blelling  of  God  ;   I  have  nvaitc^d for  thy  Salvation,  0  Lord. 

Some  imagine  that  the  good  old  Patriarch  was,  at  this  Time, 
almoft  fpcRt  upon  his  Death-bed  with  going  fo  far  as  he  had 
done  ;  and  in  thefe  Words  he  takes  Breath  again  :  Others  think 
there's  in  them  theHorror  of  that  Idolatry  that  he  faw  theTribe 
of  Dan  would  run  into.  But  if  you'll  take  'em  for  a  Paufe,  it's 
a  Sign,  that  what  he  had  faid  of  a  People  getting  back  their  Li- 
berties, was  of  fo  muck  Value  with  him,  that  his  Soul  can  reft  a 
while  upon  it,  before  he  proceeds  to  the  other  Bleffings. 

Or,  you  may  underftand  it,  as  feveral  would  do,  for  a  perfonal 
Wifti,  ^.  D.  "  Let  me  turn  afide  for  a  Moment  from  telling 
*•  what  will  happen  to  yea,  and  fpend  one  Thought  upon  my 
"  felf.  You  hear  what  IjJ'ackar  will  give  up,  and  Dan  retrieve  ; 
'♦  but  thefe  things  belong  to  a  World  1  am  going  from.  There's 
"  fomething  nearer  me  than  your  Profperity  ;  /  have  i-jaited  for 
*'  thy  Salvation,  0  Lord."  If  you  take  it  thjs,  it  tells  us,  That 
for  good  Men  to  know  that  they  who  cOnie  after  'em  will  be 
zealous  for  God,  and  truly  concern'd  for  the  Publick  Intereft,  is 
OneCordial  in  a  dying  Hour;  as  David  faith  \.o  Sobmon,  I  go 
the  ivay  of  all  the  Earth  ;  but  be  thoufrong,  and  Jhcw  thy  felf  a 
Jf..'«,    I  Kings   2.2. 

But  I  fee  no  reafon  v>hy  the  Sclvation  that  he  nvaltsd  fvr^ 
may  nor  be  conne<ftcd  to  the  ways  that  Dan  would  take  in  judg- 
i/ig  his  people.     And  then  it  includes  in  it  thefe  three'  things. 

I.  His  hearty  VVifhes  to  fo  good  a  Cauie,  ^.  D.  *'  This  will 
"  be  thy  Temper,  and  my  BleiTing  go  aloug  with  it.  It's  wivaC 
♦'  I  think  of  with  Plcafure,  and  in  i»me  of  my  laft  Breath  coin- 
•*  mit  thee  to  the  Favour  of  Heavea  :  77-?  God  before  whom  jny 
"  Fathers  '■ojcilkt,  the  Angel  that  redeemed  ine  fvoJH  all E-jH,  efia- 
"   blijh  the  IVork  of  thi^e  Hand." 

And  this  we  have  had  many  Examples  of  ;  the'  good  People 
were  juft  at  the  Gates  of  Glory,  yet  they  could  not  take  leave 
of  thole    that    iiay'd   behind,    without    a   Te8;!;r.ony  *  for    the 

C   2  Caufe 


♦  lio.vcver  convenient   it  msy  be  to    live  \ipon    the  Bread  ihaicheii  fiom 
the  hua^ry  iiaiuer,   yet  v.hsn  DcatJi  coiwei,  it  is  <i«utjtiul,    whsth-r 

the 


20  The  Ass  or,  716^  Serpent. 

Caufe  they  had  been  engag'd  in  :  Which  ought  to  be  of  the 
greatefl:  Value  with  us,  that  fuch  a  Number  of  excellent  Pcrfons 
have  died  Praying  for  the  Peace  of  our  Jerufalem.  They  have' 
fpoke  well  of  the  Liberties  of  Mankind,  when  themfelves  were 
leaving  all  Things  of  that  fort ;  and  we  cannot  think  that  God 
would  let  'em  go  out  of  the  World,  either  with  a  Lye  in  their 
"Mouths,  or  a  Trifle  in  their  Hearts. 

2.  When  he  adds,  I  have  ivaitcd  for  thy  Salvation  ;  It  may  be 
underftood  as  a  Direftion  to  thofe  brave  People,  to  tell  'em, 
they  muft  hope  for  Succefs  in  a  religious  Way.  Second  Caufes 
are  employ'd  ;  but  the  good  old  Man  would  let  'em  know.  That 
their  Salvation  is  of  the  Lord :  And  if  they  will  conquer  in  ear- 
nell,   they  muft  be  a  People  that  luait  for  it.  t 

This  comprehends  the  Duty  that  they  owe  to  him,  their  De- 
pendance  upon  his  Care,  their  Jealoufy  for  his  Honour.  The 
Profane,  the  Unclean,  the  Evil-doers  do  not  come  into  the  Nura- 
6er.  If  they  have  any  hopes  of  being  deliver'd,  'tis  from  fomc- 
thing  elfe,  for  God  is  not  in  all  thiir  Thoughts .  They  that  ufe 
his  Name  without  Reverence,  and  his  People  without  Pity,  can't 
think  that  he  hath  any  Pleafure  in  theirWays.  But  Jacob  would 
have  them  give  all  their  Counfels  &  Attempts  a  ferious  Tindure, 
for  when  the  high  Praifes  of  Cod  are  in  their  Mouths,  it  will  add 
a  Weight  to  the  tivo  edged  S'-Mord  that  is  in  their  Hands,  Pfalm 
cxlix.  6. 

7.,  This  feems  to  be  an  Aft  of  his  Faith  in  the  great  Mejjiah  ; 
for  it's  under  this  Name  that  another  good  old  Man  receiv'd  him  : 
Lord,  nonv  httejl  thou  thy  Servant  depart  in  peaee,  for  }?iine  Eyes 
have  feen  thy  Salvation,  Luk.  ii.  29,  30.  Nor  could  this  be 
thought  improper  to  mingie  with  the  Zeal  they  had  for  Civil 
Liberties  :  It  was  by  Faith  in  him  that  the  Elders  obtained  a 
good  Report,  \n  fubduing  Kingdot.HS,  'workiugRighteoufnefs,Jlopping 
the  Mouths  of  Lions,  ivaxing  valiant  in  Flight,  and  turning  to 
fight  the  Enemies  of  the  Alters.  The  Believer  hath  in  him  .he 
truell  Courage.  There's  uothinp  i:a  ;uiy  one  Doiftrine  of  Chrif- 
tianity  that  will  tye  up   the  Hanis  of  an  injurd  People.     One 

that 


tho  nioft  hardened  Son  of  Tyranny  can  look  with  Pleafure  o«  tlie  Heaps 
of  V/ealth  wiiicii  he  has  acciiiirtd  by  ^nridlng  the  Face  of  the  Poor, 
but  he  who  has  zeaioufly  defended  the  Rights  of  Mankind,  exults  in 
"  his  Condudt  in  his  lalt  Hours  ;  and  looking  up  to  Heaven  with  Con- 
fidence, lecornnjendjn'r  the  Caufe  in  which  he  has  been  engap;ed  to  the 
gre;-<!t  Ruler  of  the  Univerfe,  and  liunhly  expe<5ls  the  bright  Rtwud  of 
th  1'.-  who  h;ive  feivcd  God  in  Upriprhtnefs  of  Hcait,  aiid  faithfully 
dikhar^cd  ihtir  Duty  to  .their  fcMcw  JN'len. 


The  Ass  >     •-    The        -PENT.  21 

that  hath  tafed  that  the  Lord  is  gracious,  muft  have  fity  to  the 
Defolations  of  Mankind.  He  can't  endure  to  fee  that  Nature 
ruin'd  by  a  Tyrant,  that  hath  been  honour'd  by  a  Saviour. 

And  then  befides  as  the  Kingdom  of  a  Mefliah  extends  it  felf, 
it  vsrill  proclaim  Liberty  to  the  Captives.  It's  an  Inftitution,  as 
well  as  a  Prophecy,  that  there  (hall  be  no  hurting  nor  dejiroying 
in  all  his  holy  Mountain  ;  and  he  is  then  faid  to  taie  to  hitHfelf 
his  great  Penver  and  Reign,  luhen  he  dejiroys  them  that  deftroy 
the  Earth.  Rev.  ii.  i8. 

And,  again,  One  that  hath  Faith  in  Jefus,  is  waiting  for  that 
Time,  when  King! /i:>alljhut  their  Mouths  at  him  ;  Princes  Jhall 
fee  and  arife,  and  \s.t\\firike  thrsugh  Monarchs  in  the  Day  of  his 
Wrath,  and  wrinch  his  Glory  out  of  their  Hands,  who  have  taken 
it  from  him. 

Again,  waiting  for  this  Salvation,  prepares  a  Man  for  the  Day 
of  Battle.  A  Chriftian  does  not  fight  upon  thofe  Hazards  that 
others  do,  who  lofe  two  Lives  at  once,  that  which  drops  in  the 
Field,  and  that  which  is  eternal.  TheBeliever  in  thefe  Dangers 
takes  himfelf  to  he  fighting  the  good  Fight,  and  keeping  the  Faith  ; 
and  if  his  Courfe  is  at  an  End  in  this  Attempt,  it  will  \iz  finifli'd 
*Vi<ith  Joy. 

And  thus  have  I  fet  before  you  the  two  Tempers  that  diftin- 
guifhed  thefe  Tribes.  Here's  Death,  and  Life,  and  Curjing,  and 
Blejjing  :  The  Choice  muft  now  be  your  own  A(5t.  My  Time 
hath  lufFer'd  me  to  do  little  more  than  take  the  Words  to  pieces, 
and  confider  the  Parts  of  'em  afunder  ;  you'll  eafijy  apply  what 
you  have  heard  thefe  two  ways. 

1.  Into  a  full  Refentment  of  thofe  Doctrines  that  would  per- 
fwade  you  out  of  your  Liberties  upon  the  fame  Terms  that  Iffa- 
fA^r  parted  with  Theirs.  'Tis  pity  that  humane  Nature  it  felf 
ihould  be  fo  far  dcbafed  ;  but  'tis  with  an  Aggravation  that  we 
fee  the  Holy  Name  of  Chrift  hath  been  blafpbem'd  ;  that  thofe 
Myfteries  mullbe  our  Choice,  which  was  the  Romans  Abhor- 
rence ;  as  the  Apollle  faich  in  another  cafe,  it's  a  Fornication  not 
fo  much  as  naiii'd  amungthe  Goitiles .  Do  not  take  it  for  a  fmall 
matter,  for  at  this  Gap  do  they  throw  in  all  the  Superftitionsof 
Worfhip,  their  ^f^w/^.7^/f  £)c/£7;v><?/,  as  well    as  their  cniel    Mea- 

■  Aires,     'Tis  by  this  means  they'll  fteal  away  your  Religion,  and 
fill  the  Nation  with  Darknefs,  and  Blood. 

2.  This  calls  us  up  to  the  Praifes  of  God,  who  deliver'd  us 
from  the  Stupidity  of  Iffachar,  and  iiifpir'd  us  with  the  Temper 
of  Dan,  at  our  Revolution. 

I'm 


41  *  vrer,  77j/r  Serpent. 

I'm  fenfiWe,  this  Mercy  haifl  had  all  the  Regards  that  the 
Children  of  Ifrael  gave  to  the  Manna  which  fell  from  Heaven. 
AtfirA  we  gather'd  it,  we  tafted  it,  iiv'd  upon  it,  and  reckon'd 
it  Angelt  Food ;  now  'tis  but  '>*ht  Bread, -andi  we  want  Flejh  to 
eat ;  nay,  as  it  is  faid  of  Soo.  ,<,  we  are  going  out  after  firange 
Flejh  :  And  I  doubt  not  but  the  Parrallel  would  hold  further, 
tihat  it  muH  come  as  foon  out  of  our  Nojirils,  as  it  did  out  of 
Theirs.  What  they  defir'd  in  their  Lufl,  they  enjoy'd  with  a 
Plague t^QT  e're  it  'was  chenudy  'while  it 'was  yet  betiveen  their 
Teeth,  the  Wrath  ef  Cod  fell  upon  ''em. 

'  But  I  would  recommend  the  great  Things  that  he  hath  done 
for  us,  to  your  Value  and  Care  ;  and  this  can  be  exprefled  in  no 
l>etter  way,  than  by  nvalking  in  the  Light,  'while  'we  have  the 
Light ;  a  Converfation  that  becomes  the  Gofpel ;  an  Abhorrence 
of  any  thing  that  would  mingle  with  your  Religion,  or  defile 
your  Praftice  ;  a  Pity  to  the  poor  Proteftants  in  France,  upon 
Vfhota.  the  Clouds  have  return  d  after  the  Rain  ;  as  having  no 
Fell(ywfhip  'with  the  unfruitful  IVarks  ofDarknefs.  And,  who- 
ever they  are  that  have  no  Compaffion  for  Blood,  no  Reverence 
■for  Leagues,  0  my  Soul  !  come  not  thou  into  their  Secret,  untt 
their  A£'emhly,  mine  Honour  he  not  thou  united  ;  for  in  their  An- 
ger they  flew  a  Man,  and  in  their  Self-mill  they  dig  donxjn  a  IVall : 
jLetfuch  Counfel  of  the  Wicked  be  far  from  me,  I  have  'waited  far 
thj  Salvation,  0  Lord. 


FINIS. 


X973*395      B798  82570 


